The Palo Alto Networks PA-820 is a cutting-edge, ML-powered Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) designed to meet the security needs of enterprise branch offices and midsized businesses. Powered by PAN-OS®, it provides unparalleled visibility and control over all network traffic, classifying it by application, user, and content, regardless of location or device. This ensures a proactive security posture that blocks threats, reduces incident response times, and enhances overall network resilience.
The PA-820 is equipped with advanced capabilities such as deep inspection of encrypted traffic, including TLS 1.3 and HTTP/2, and offers full integration with cloud-delivered security services for threat prevention, DNS protection, and URL filtering. With built-in SD-WAN functionality, it ensures seamless connectivity while optimizing end-user experience by minimizing latency and jitter. Its comprehensive IoT security features enable the discovery, risk assessment, and automated policy enforcement for unmanaged devices, making it ideal for environments with diverse endpoints.
Designed for high availability, the PA-820 supports active/active and active/passive modes, ensuring uninterrupted operations. It integrates seamlessly with leading identity management systems like Active Directory and LDAP, offering consistent security across local and remote users on all major platforms. Centralized management via Panorama further simplifies large-scale deployments, while Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) accelerates setup for multiple firewalls.
Engineered for performance, the PA-820 delivers up to 1.8 Gbps firewall throughput and robust VPN support, ensuring secure and efficient operations. With its scalable, enterprise-grade features, the PA-820 is a trusted solution for organizations looking to secure their networks without compromising usability or performance.
Overview
The Palo Alto Networks PA-820 is an ML-powered Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) specifically designed for midsized businesses and enterprise branch offices. It leverages the PAN-OS® operating system, offering real-time traffic classification and security based on applications, users, and content. This enables enhanced protection and faster incident response times, all while maintaining high performance.
Key Features
- Machine Learning-Powered: Automates threat identification and prevention for better accuracy and faster responses.
- Comprehensive Application Control: Identifies applications across all ports and encryptions (including TLS 1.3 and HTTP/2), using them as the basis for security policies.
- Cloud-Delivered Security Services:
- Threat Prevention: Blocks malware, exploits, and spyware in real time.
- WildFire: Provides rapid protection against unknown threats.
- URL Filtering: Prevents access to harmful websites.
- DNS Security: Blocks threats exploiting DNS and uses predictive analytics for proactive protection.
- IoT Security: Discovers, classifies, and secures unmanaged devices with automated policy enforcement.
- SD-WAN Integration: Optimizes connectivity with minimal latency and jitter, while maintaining high security.
- Active/Passive and Active/Active Modes: Ensures high availability and operational continuity.
Networking Features
- Integrated I/O Options:
- Four 10/100/1000 Mbps ports.
- Eight Gigabit SFP ports for flexible connectivity.
- One out-of-band management port, two high-availability ports, and console/USB interfaces.
- Simplified Management: Centralized with Panorama, ensuring consistent policy enforcement and efficient scaling.
- Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP): Simplifies large-scale deployments by automating firewall configuration and setup.
Security & Connectivity Features
- Encrypted Traffic Inspection: Deep packet inspection for encrypted traffic, ensuring threats are stopped before infiltration.
- Identity-Based Security: Integrates seamlessly with Active Directory, LDAP, and other identity providers to apply consistent policies to users and devices.
- Scalable VPN Capabilities: Supports secure site-to-site and remote access VPN with high throughput.
- Predictable Performance: Delivers consistent security services, even under heavy traffic loads.
Technical Specifications
- Performance:
- Firewall throughput: 1.8 Gbps.
- Threat prevention throughput: 780 Mbps.
- VPN throughput: 1.3 Gbps.
- Hardware:
- Storage: 240GB SSD.
- Power Supply: Fixed 200W AC power.
- Rack Unit: 1U, 19” standard rack.
- Weight: 11 lbs (standalone), 18 lbs (as shipped).
- Environmental Tolerances:
- Operating temperature: 32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C).
- Non-operating temperature: -4°F to 158°F (-20°C to 70°C).
- Certifications: cCSAus, FCC Class A, VCCI Class A, and others.
Use Cases
By Industry
- Retail: Secure branch office networks, protect payment systems, and enable secure IoT device usage.
- Healthcare: Ensure HIPAA compliance, secure sensitive patient data, and safeguard medical IoT devices.
- Education: Protect student data, enable secure remote learning, and manage traffic with granular controls.
- Financial Services: Safeguard transactions, prevent fraud, and ensure regulatory compliance.
By Applications
- Securing IoT Devices: Automates risk assessment and policy enforcement for unmanaged devices.
- Cloud Access: Protects hybrid environments with SD-WAN and integrates seamlessly with cloud-delivered security services.
- Branch Office Security: Ensures seamless connectivity with centralized policy enforcement and high availability.
Real-Life Scenarios
- Remote Work Enablement: Secure VPN connectivity for distributed teams.
- Regulatory Compliance: Aligns security controls with standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
- Incident Response: Reduces response time by automating threat detection and prevention.
Advantages
- Unparalleled Security: Blocks 100% of known evasions and malware as per independent tests.
- Easy Deployment: ZTP and centralized management make setup quick and hassle-free.
- High Performance: Handles demanding network environments without compromising throughput.
- Future-Ready: Leverages ML for proactive threat prevention and evolving network needs.
- Broad Compatibility: Supports integration with legacy systems, modern cloud services, and diverse user platforms.
Documentation
- Download the Palo Alto Networks PA-800 Series Specification Datasheet
- Download the Palo Alto Networks Firewall Overview Datasheet
Conclusion
- The PA-820 is an ideal firewall solution for midsized organizations and enterprise branch offices requiring robust security.
- Its ML-powered capabilities enable faster threat detection and prevention.
- Comprehensive networking and security features ensure adaptability to diverse operational needs.
- Seamless integration with cloud-delivered services and centralized management reduces operational complexity.
- With scalable performance and ease of deployment, the PA-820 offers a future-proof solution for modern security challenges.